Post-weekend Poetry 120: Poet’s Model by Michael McGrinder

Welcome to Post-weekend Poetry and the one hundred and twentieth poem in this series. This week’s piece is by Michael McGrinder.

Poet’s Model

Come in, please.
I’d like you to pose for a poem.
Yes, of course, I’m serious.

Would you like coffee?
Black, no sugar.
It’s how I drink mine,
and I really wasn’t expecting company.

Turn to the left—your own.
Now to the right. Back again, just a little.
Right there. Hold it.
This light’s not all it could be.

Your brow furrows
but you have interesting laugh lines.
Your heart is warm
and you’re too serious about yourself.
You take on the troubles of others.
(Take them off, please.)
Perhaps they’re a form of escape.
(Yes, all of them.)

I see you in somber yellows
washes of blue
with small coils of red
hurtling toward the circumference.
Blacks fading to gray. Bold whites.
There’s some nice depth here
without the need for a coherent philosophy.

I have spent most of my adult life in the company of artists, and in the art community. Artists always seem to have the most fun, and they can socialize while creating. I have never been an envious person, but this struck me as a desirable situation. I decided to explore it via poetry. I was thinking something lighter when I started the poem, but art is so much more interesting when we allow it to lead the way. I was paid twelve dollars ($12) for its publication, which came as a nice surprise—twelve dollars more than I’ve been paid for some plays. It is now the title poem for a book I am publishing with KDP and with CreateSpace—target date July 2nd.

Thank you, Michael. It was lovely. I can just imagine the poet (you?) speaking.

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Michael McGrinder is a veteran of Off-Off-Broadway’s early years, having worked primarily at The Old Reliable Theatre Tavern in New York’s Alphabet City on East 3rd Street between Aves B & C. As a popular actor-director, Neil Flanagan, once said, “It’s easy to find. Just turn left at the burning automobile.” And playwright-actor Jeanine O’Reilly: “No wonder we get such good crowds. Everyone’s afraid to come here alone.”

McGrinder’s one-act play, The Foreigners, was cited by Other Stages as “One of Off-Off’s Best”. His work has also been seen at La MaMa, Miranda, The Playwrights Workshop Club, Bastiano’s Cellar, Gallery Players, Boston Conservatory, and inFragments—the walking tour of the East Village (Peculiar Works Project). His No Saletoured correctional institutions under the aegis of Theatre for the Forgotten with Terrence McNally’s Next. He was, with Stanley Nelson, editor-publisher of Proscenium: The Theatre Newsletter. They were also co-hosts of an early cable public access show called Proscenium, later when Nelson resigned called, Michael McGrinder Presents.

The Old Reliable Press, his newly formed independent press, clearly takes its name from and honors his favorite theatrical venue. He is better known as a poet in England where he lived for several years prior to the Off-Off experience.

Awards include: The Scene Playwright’s Award, Writers Forum Poetry Competition (London), and a USAF Short Story Award judged by Agatha Christie; part of the award included having dinner with that grand dame.

Poet’s Model, a book and ebook of his poetry, will be published in early July, at which time the poems on his blogs will be taken down, though others will go up. You can find Michael via michaelmcgrinder.com and oldreliablepress.com.

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“I’d like you to pose for a poem.” If not a classic conversation piece, it should be! A new pickup line maybe? Multitasking here… this poem has got me talking to myself too. Wonderful, I’ll have to look for that book in July!

Hi mgu/
It’s been a crazy-busy week; getting the book on Amazon has been only part of it, but I did want to thank you for the great comments. I love that I may have created a new pick-up line. I’ve managed to keep the book’s price at 99 cents. I hope you get as much pleasure from it as I have from your remarks./ Michael http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LG5YOY6

Thanks, Morgen. It is a genuine delight to find my poem highlighted in your series. I must correct myself in that I stated June 2 as the target date for my eBook when I meant July 2nd. It’s June 30 now, and that’s still my target. I can’t speak for Amazon. I should also mention that Poet’s Model was originally published in Creations. And yes, it is my voice in the poem. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all work in that same relaxed, congenial atmosphere available to visual artists?

I love this poem. I could actually see an artist studio and Michael as the artist. I was struck how as I read, I saw me in this poem (taking on the problems of others…). Of course, I’m sure others could see themselves as well. This poem is brilliant. Thank you for spotlighting him. I will have to purchase his book.

Hi Y.I. /
It’s been a see-saw week, with getting the book on Amazon just part of it, but I did want to thank you for the lovely comments. I’m sure you’d be great company in a studio – or anywhere else for that matter.The book is live, and I’ve kept it at 99 cents. They wouldn’t let me give it away. Warm wishes/Michael http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LG5YOY6

Thanks everyone, for the sweet comments and likes, and thanks again, Morgen. I am happy to announce that the book is now available on kindle. I wanted to give the book away, but Amazon had no option for it. Fair enough. Fourth of July celebration sale price is 99 cents. Poet’s Model.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LG5YOY6